Deadline approaching for school places

There’s still time for parents to apply to Derbyshire County Council for their child’s infant or primary school place.

The deadline for applications is midnight on January 15

Parents of children born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 can apply online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/admissions

Applying online is quicker and easier and allows parents to make changes to their application at any point up to the closing date. They also receive an e-mail to confirm their application has been received.

People without access to a computer can Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058 for staff to take their application details. This process takes about 15 minutes.

Or they can complete a paper form which they can get by emailing admissions@derbyshire.gov.uk or ring 01629 537499. The form can be returned to any Derbyshire infant or primary school.

Even if they have approached a school to put their child’s name down they still need to fill out an application form.

Leaflets explaining the process are available from primary and infant schools, children’s centres, nurseries and early years’ groups.

Meanwhile, those parents whose children are currently at an infant school also need to apply for a place at a junior school. Even if their child attends an associated infant school they still need to make an application.

Parents can express preferences for three schools, although no child has an automatic right to a place at any particular school.

Attendance at a nursery gives no priority for a place at a particular infant or primary schools. Similarly attendance at a particular infant school gives no guarantee of a place at an associated junior school.

Applications submitted to Derbyshire County Council after the deadline will not be considered until places have been allocated to those children whose parents did apply in time.

Parents who fail to meet the deadline may find the school they want their child to go to is full.

Councillor Mike Longden, the county council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “We want parents to carefully consider which school they would like their child to go to and get their application in before the deadline to give themselves the best chance of success.

“If they miss the deadline they risk not getting a place for their child at their preferred school and that could mean them having to travel further or not getting in to the same school as their friends.”

Any parents who are refused a place for their child have a right to appeal to an independent panel.

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